Linton Well Backed in The BMW Horse Race Betting for Golden Slipper Day

April 1st, 2011

Lloyd Williams’ promising four-year-old gelding Linton has been one of the best backed runners to win the $2.25 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill’s Golden Slipper Day tomorrow.

One of 11 horses accepted into the 2011 The BMW field, Galileo grey Linton is set to face off against 10 classy rivals as he looks to break his maiden Group 1 status.

A winner of three of his 12 career starts to date, the Robert Hickmott-trained Linton makes his Sydney debut in The BMW tomorrow.

Winner of the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes over 2400m at Caulfield during the spring, Linton is fourth up for the season having shown tremendous improvement last start finishing two lengths away second to previous Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) on March 12.

Linton currently sits on the third line of The BMW Stakes betting behind easing favourite Maluckyday and last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Descarado.

After drawing well with barrier four, Linton has been a consistent market firmer for the weight-for-age feature.

“In the BMW Stakes early action has been with the Lloyd Williams owned Linton,” Luxbet’s Paul Vincent stated to CupCarnival.com.au.

“(Linton) has firmed from $6.50 into $5.50 with bets of 8k @ $6.50 and 5k @ $6.00.”

Having drawn on the rails with barrier one, Maluckyday was originally well-supported but has drifted out from $2.70 to $3 and has been tipped as the ‘Lay of the Day’ by Vincent.

“I was disappointed with his start effort despite the criticism of the ride and thought he was beaten too far to turn the tables here,” Vincent said in regards to Maluckyday’s efforts in the Ranvet.

Maluckyday comes off a fourth place finish behind fellow The BMW rival Zavite in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m).

Anthony Cummings’ veteran galloper Zavite was the upset winner of the Ranvet saluting as a $101 roughie.

Drawn wide for Saturday in gate 10, Zavite is rated a $14 chance to win two Group 1’s in a row in The BMW and go one better than their second to Littorio in this race 12 months ago.

Runner-up in the Ranvet last start beaten by a mere short-head, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Descarado is also firming in The BMW odds now into $3.40.

The 2011 The BMW is set to run as Rosehill Race 5 at 2:25pm (AEDST), one of five Group 1 features on a programme headlined by the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at 4:05pm (AEDST).